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- Intellectual property is an innovation killer by Joshua Lachkovic , KernalMag
- Dumb Idea Hall of Fame by Aaron David Miller, Foreign Policy
- Nadine Dorries threatens Cameron's Party Leadership by Nadine Dorries, Daily Mail
- Boris set for party leadership? by Traci Watson, USAToday
- Anti-Israel students deface Star of David at student conference by Jonny Paul, Jerusalem Post
- Jihadist Videos on University Facebook by Rupert Sutton, Huffington Post UK
- Skintland: Heads I Win, Tails You Lose by Alex Massie, Spectator UK
- Green tax on conservatories by James Slack and Tamara Cohen, Daily Mail
- Saudi princess: What I'd change about my country by Staff writers, BBC
The Disastrous Death of Common Sense
Former British Ambassador Charles Crawford argues that the Labour Party’s support for the unrelenting deconstruction of British values has created ignorant, violent decontextualised people, completely detached from history - and morality
Over the centuries English property law has invented many ingeniously pragmatic ways in which property can be owned. One key distinction shows itself every time a couple take out a new mortgage. They are offered a choice: a ‘tenancy in common’ or a ‘joint tenancy’.
The difference is as simple as it is profound. Under a tenancy in common, the property is owned by A and B in specific shares (eg half/half, one third/two thirds); A’s share can be sold or bequeathed to someone else, so B now co-owns the property with that new person. By contrast, if A and B own under a joint tenancy there are no identifiable shares: if A dies, A’s share automatically goes to B.
In other words, property ownership can be the sum of many discrete, separable parts each owned by a different individual, or a single phenomenon in which many owners each have an equal claim on the whole.
For property, read society or community. And then contemplate the sprawling philosophical disaster of ‘multiculturalism’.
The whole point about multiculturalism is that it treats any given social space as, in effect, a tenancy in common. Each group (as defined by multiculturalism) has a specific stake and specific interests: the gays, the blacks, the women, the disabled, the under-class all have formally defined rights and identities.
This very idea of course leads to what any normal person would see as insane if not wicked contradictions: thus it is vital that lesbian couples be given the right to adopt children, but also vital that ‘white’ couples be stopped from adopting ‘black’ children. But for multiculturalists it all makes perfect sense: the property rights of each atomised multicultural ‘community’ must be ring-fenced.
This philosophy is all about emphasising differences: some real, but many phony and synthetic. By contrast seeing society as a ‘joint tenancy’ in which what people have in common is far greater than what divides them suggests very different policy approaches, not least non-racial adoption policies.
So, what has ‘caused’ this startling outbreak of flash rioting?
One fact in the maelstrom of media babbling is clear. The overwhelming majority of rioters and looters were educated in urban state schools in the long years of Labour governments, and so brought up in a strongly multiculturalist philosophy.
A central part of this philosophy is to deny if not denounce (literally to de-construct and de-legitimise) traditional values and unifying symbols. See Twitter, the Guardian and Independent passim.
Under multiculturalism what precisely unites us? The Monarchy? Sneer - white privilege and oppression. The Law? Sneer - rich man's justice. British history? Sneer - written by imperialist winners. British economic success? Sneer - just the rich getting richer at the expense of the poor. The British public? Sneer - bring in more immigrants and let them stay in ghettos not learning English. British democracy or even democracy itself? Sneer - a tool of oppression and false consciousness. British literature? Sneer - too many dead white men. Family values? Sneer - repressed middle-class neurosis. Separating Right from Wrong? Sneer - oppressive class-based value judgements. And so on.
For a gold-plated example of progressive sneering, check out the Nobel Prize lecture of Harold Pinter:
'There are no hard distinctions between what is real and what is unreal, nor between what is true and what is false. A thing is not necessarily either true or false; it can be both true and false.'
Tell that to the ruined shopkeepers across London.
Thus every day in every way our society is infiltrated by divisive sneering. Most of it emanates from publicly funded organisations captured by the sneering classes (universities, BBC, NGOs, local councils, quangos). And over the years the consequences of this tsunami of state-subsidised sneering compound up, not least in the way people think about what they themselves represent in society and what society ‘owes’ to them.
This in turn gnaws at deepest instincts of personal self-respect. How dare the government make ‘cuts’? It’s my money, especially if I have done nothing to earn it!
The multiculturalist chattering classes see the looters and rioters with mixed emotions. There is lurking (sometimes not so lurking) pride that ‘the system’ has been ‘challenged’ so brutally by these ‘protesters’ who have ‘reclaimed’ (sic) the streets. The underpowered and faltering police response has been noted and approved. It is, ahem, embarrassing that these fine warriors are identified with poverty and deprivation, yet manage to organise themselves through expensive mobile kit. And it’s awkward that certain ethnic communities quickly mobilised to defend themselves. But the main thing is that the ‘under-class’ offered ‘resistance’! Bring it on.
We can draw some shreds of comfort from the fact that left wing forces now pin their hopes on this under-class. Back in 1848 Karl Marx himself used language likely to dismay people listening to the Today programme:
The “dangerous class”, [lumpenproletariat] the social scum, that passively rotting mass thrown off by the lowest layers of the old society…
Those of us who refuse to succumb to progressive nihilism must heave a deep sigh and confront the extraordinary horror seen on the streets of London and other cities and towns.
It’s bad enough having to pay to put it right – money which could have been spent on new investment. Most difficult to tackle in its vile abstractness is the philosophical problem: the insolent assumption that anything (anyone?) can be challenged and destroyed simply because the rioters and looters feel like it. And the implicit blackmail threat that if we don’t give these people whatever they want, they’ll start it up again.
The looters in some dim way probably talk among each other about ‘respect’, but in substance they don't respect other people, the law, any idea of self restraint. Above all, they don’t respect or begin to understand the slow power of compound interest to build and sustain wealth down the generations.
They don’t know where the value of what they are smashing and burning in fact originates. They don’t know where the streets they plunder come from.
And that’s the most ruinous feature of the Labour Party’s support for the unrelenting deconstruction of British values. It has created ignorant, violent decontextualised people completely detached from history - and morality.
In short, this is a sign of the death of common sense. It shows that there are clusters of moral parasites living in the UK who literally have nothing ‘in common’ with the vast majority, yet who can use technology created by clever, disciplined hard-working people to cause immense damage, almost out of nowhere.
They’ll be curbed and contained, of course. But then what?
Charles Crawford was British Ambassador in Sarajevo, Belgrade and Warsaw. He is now a private consultant and writer:www.charlescrawford.biz. He tweets @charlescrawford
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Thank you. Far more incisive and persuasive than I could put it. If I could also point out that it is now the third successive time that the loss of office by a Labour Government has been followed by disturbances, violence and rioting by those affiliated to that Party and / or members of its client state against the incoming Government. Once is happenstance, twice coincidence and thrice is ?
The pathetic response of the Labour Party to their state-created underclass destroying the homes and livelihoods of working men and women - who Labour still laughably purports to represent - will live long in the memory. It could actually destroy them as a political party. Let's hope so.
"A central part of this philosophy is to deny if not denounce (literally to de-construct and de-legitimise) traditional values and unifying symbols."
Absolutely right. But there's a simpler way of saying this, namely, the recognition that multiculturalism is cultural Marxism. But this is the precise thinking of Anders Breivik that vast parts of the commentariat were convinced not too long ago was a paranoid conspiracy, and if you shared it, you were an apologist for child slaughter.
How the worm turns!
I have just watched a playback of last night's television confrontation between Harriet Harman and Michael Gove. HH actually tried to link this obscene criminal behaviour to university tuition fees, the revised EMA system and the closure of a south London Jobcentre!! Words fail me...happily the admirable MG took up cudgels and expressed on behalf of the vast majority of sensible people his disgust at this appalling attempt to twist criminality into a political rant against the deficit and debt disasters which were caused by her own "colleagues" As long as people in positions of authority are prepared to act so badly, and try to justify their criminality, a proportion of these the louts will feel that they can act with impunity.
Very well said indeed! Perhaps some sort of obligatory National Community Service? Everyone spends 6-12 months between the ages of 16 and 24 working in their local community, either in a block, or several chunks to fit round other commitments. Employers should be encouraged to allow a certain amount of leave of absence per year for this work. Those on benefits should continue to receive their benefits, but only if they do the work. It would take a huge amount of organisation and be difficult to enforce, particularly amongst those who have been looting and rioting, but perhaps at least worth examining in detail. We have to try to do something to fight back against this depressing trend!
why doesn't somebody ask the people involved in the 'riots' what they think? - when was the last time you spoke to someone younger than yourself?
Or doesn't their opinion matter in this festering pit of a country
The failure of the black community to keep families together & bring their children up with strong ethical principles & respectful values has nothing to do with white racism. It has everything to do with a subconscious sense of deep rooted historical displacement. Repatriation for 2nd & 3rd generation immigrants must be considered now – they will find their roots & heritage & culture in their ancestral homelands – not in western ghettoes addicted to benefits. More liberalism, more taxpayer cash thrown at ghettoes, more positive discrimination, more 5 a day inner city diversity co-ordinators are not going to work - an orderly dismantling of the epic disaster called multi-culturalism will.
Sounds like you are also taking a pot at Roland Barthes and Jacques Derrida - no bad thing, mind.
I remember reading that Ukrainians were once told by some Nazi leader that they were 'to be given just enough education to enable them to avoid being run over by our trucks'. In hindsight, I suppose Blair's 'Education Education Education' mantra meant giving the British people just enough education to enable them to trundle down to the polling station every now and again and put their sign in the box marked 'Labour'.
Michael Mcgrath, absolutely spot on, but it is important that this level of aggressive response to Labour is continued, they must not be allowed to steal the agenda, which unfortunately with the lack lustre support of the Limp dems may happen.
James Maynard, you know where the airport is ? try the festering pit of communism that is Cuba.
By trying to blame the behaviour of the 'oppressed' individual on 'society', it negates personal responsibility, which in turn has a corrosive effect on society and makes the individual more 'oppressed'. In simplistic terms it's a licence to s**t on your own doorstep. And so you get an ever worse environment, which - Labour's thinking goes - is somebody else's fault, not the individual's, and by implication the individual is then powerless to stop it. It's a destructive spiral downwards.
The way to break the circle is to impress upon people that they're responsible for their actions, and their actions have consequences for both them and others.
Two points. 1 Watching 'The World's Strictest Parents' several have been black Americans who have very strict rules & enforce them. They have also been predominantly religious, giving their children strong moral values and demanding respect. Why so different here? Perhaps the lack of religion has something to do with it. 2 Who was it who said "There is no such thing as society"?! Did the 'me, me, me' crowd take that to heart?
James Maynard: the problem with asking a 'so-called rioter' what they think is that they will punch you in the face before running off with some freshly nicked shoes rather than engage in political or philosophical debate. A bit like how imperialists used to act back in the day.
London Liz: "....there is no such thing as society: there are individual men and women, and there are families. And no government can do anything except through people, and people must look to themselves first. It's our duty to look after ourselves, and then also to look after our neighbour." I do wish people wouldn't parrot this 'society' quote without the thoroughly common sense context in which it was made, attempting to twist it into some kind of lunatic beggar-thy-neighbour 'Greed is good' philosophy.
No parenting no education no respect no values - this generation of mindless thugs are going to be with us for a long long time. perhpas we should be very robust now. No more PC no more liberalism no mor benefit of the doubt no more state benefits without social work - and if that fails lets meet force with force.
My point is this: if we start (as this article does) from the comparison of property rights to the stake which each individual holds in Society, how can we, as individuals, protect either our property or societal rights? A Tory would - or, at least, ought to - point to the Bill of Rights, which codified what it describes as the 'ancient right' to bear arms (and which was more-or-less copied into the American Constitution as its second amendment). Contrariwise, any non-Tory would presumably make the 'state monopoly of violence' argument.
From the distance of Warsaw, I can see two practical demonstrations of these two philosophies: on the one hand, the Sikhs of Southall, posed on their temple steps with an array of kirpans (ceremonial swords) and 'clicky-bas' like a school photograph; the Turks of Dalston (chair legs and snooker cues, apparently); and the white English of Enfield (who rely, as they have since at least 1415, on the usual battle-cry of 'In-ger-land' and extreme beer-fueled aggression and are, oddly enough, the only lot not seen with any 'offensive weapons').
On the other side, alas, we have as its exemplar 'Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Kavanagh', whose response is reported thus: "What I don't need is these so-called vigilantes, who appeared to have been drinking too much and taking policing resources away from what they should have been doing - which is preventing the looting... . Ironically, when you see those images with no police available, the police are now having to go and do the vigilantes as well as the other problems that they've got. That needs to stop."
In one sense, quite right Steve: '[...] taking policing resources away from what they should have been doing - which is preventing the looting [...]': if only your lot had been doing that; and on the other hand, no, Steve, actually. As soon as Plod has lost control, it's every man for himself: and if you are not out there 'reclaiming the streets' as a rioter, you ought to have every right to 'reclaim the law' from those rather ineffectual bystanders rather than hiding behind your front door and pointlessly dialing 999.
Mr.Poynton, nowdays the all west has been infected by the lethal virus of self-hate.Ignorant of the hundreds years of struggle that brought us our "rights" and "freedoms" they are ready to give it all up following a "progressive" impossible dream.
Some sixty years ago as a twelve old at a grammar school in England I first came across wretched lefty sneering. I noticed that certain kids were going around saying "Marcers bread is terrible" I discovered that Marcers parents were working hard to start a small bakery,the kids were of course parroting what their lefty parents were saying. The appalling lefty notion that enterprise,hard work and living a life of honesty and decency is something to be sneered at has unfortunately been around for a long time.
The real problem is too many people with resources too unevenly spread. We all get our money from other people, sometimes so remotely we pretend we don't. Those on benefits take out less from society than a banker but we somehow believe that the banker is more deserving of his money even if he creates greater social damage, such as generating huge fraudulent sums through securitisation which drives house prices up beyond the reach of 'ordinary' young families. We need to reward on positive contribution to society and educate accordingly. Either that or continue with the usual rise and fall of civilisations and the inevitable conflict this entails.
James Maynard Their thuggish actions speak louder than any incoherent words you might care to listen to.
Geoff Norris
In other words, Campbell was saying 'we don't do morality'. The result ia a young generation bereft of any moral compass thanks to the moral cowardliness of Campbell and people like him.
Good article to which I'd add one more thing. The sneering at business and it's owners. James Maynard said above, "why don't we ask the rioters what they think"? Well someone did last night and two girls boasting about the riots and drinking stolen wine responded, when asked about the carpet shop that had been burnt down, "we're against the rich people". Where did they learn that? Who do they think provides the employment? It's been the constant whine from the left for years and the scum have picked it up.
"Alastair Campbell's comment comes to mind - "we don't do God"" He could have equally said "we don't do good"
The Left LOVES violence. The Left ADORES violence. Violence is, and always has been, an absolutely essential part of left-wing DNA. Their philosophy which, for the last 100 years, has been a TOTAL, MURDEROUS, DESTRUCTIVE, FAILURE wherever it has been tried in the world. I saw Dianne Abbot on the news saying "We condemn this violence BUT...". There's always a qualifier with socialists, isn't there? To build the socialist utopia, you have to first destroy what exists. You have to literally burn it all down. Their 'perfect society' will rise from the ashes. The Left-wing in the UK think this violent episode is a WONDERFUL harbinger for their utopian future.
"clusters of moral parasites ... who can use technology created by clever, disciplined hard-working people to cause immense damage.". If there's one thing a decent education taught me, it is appreciation of the sweat and tears of our industrious forebears who spent collectively millions of hours developing every tiny facet of the wondrous thing my hand. From the scientists who developed the microchip to the chemist who formulated the paint on the knobs, everything about that mobile phone has an awe-inspiring story to tell. Yet the most appreciation you will get from some is "Vis fones a piece of shi'." I could weep for them.
Sir, I return after a night’s sleep (without fear this time) and a little thought. I note that you were a former British Ambassador, a member of the Foreign Office and hence the “Establishment”. The predicament of this country and the woes it suffers lie in the fact that the heights of the Establishment have either been captured by or have succumbed to the values of moral relativism / multiculturalism / cultural Marxism / Statism. But, surely, those truly believing that these ideas are truth and the basis on which to build a decent society, are a tiny minority, even at the heights of the Establishment (Civil Service, local government, BBC, Police, legal profession, other professions etc). - cont
Are not the vast majority just paying lip service for the benefits of promotion and careers? Are there not many who bite their lips and secretly believe these ideas to be fundamentally flawed and dangerous rubbish? Certainly tried to destruction and worthy only of being discarded? Cannot you and others (who so often only seem to emerge after retiring) not find, contact and align yourselves with those people within the Institutions which form the Establishment and who hold the views that you do? Quietly to begin with and then with more confidence as your numbers grow. Establish contacts within the Government and use those contacts to secure promotions of like minded individuals and the retirement of the hard core Cultural Marxists – cont
- who are perpetuating their reign of un-democratic terror and the destruction of the well being and wealth of this country? The objective must be to make the holding and airing (let alone implementing) the Cultural Marxist agenda as offensive as advocating drink driving or as preposterous as advocating Economic Marxism If I read it correctly the Tide has turned and those prepared to make a brave move now will not drown. They would have the thanks of the majority of this Country. The little boy has shouted and indeed the King has no clothes.
Very lucid article. The word sneer could also be accompanied by the description righteous. Many of the Guardianista class just reek of self importance and righteousness just like some religious fundamentalists they would claim to despise.
In far off Australia I can see the same breakdown happening here.Multiculturalism is alive and well and juvenile criminals are immune to the law.Recently in the small coastal town where I live, a police officer used pepper spray on a violent, drunken youth. He (the policeman) was charged and convicted of assault and sacked from the force! True.You are not the only ones where the law protects the crims.
Multiculturalism, is a real tangled web, and attempting to 'equalize' everybody and everything by integrating them into 'one society' is a mythbuster! In aiding one creed, it dissaffects other creeds and leads to social stigma. Government being everything to everyone, does not work. As we have recently seen! Political common sense has left the building with Elvis. Political interference in family social problems has been a disaster, statute after statute created in an attempt to control and demonise parents and families, and now we are seeing the outcome of flawed legislation and quangos on society!
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Sneering indeed - many years ago, Orwell noted that England was the only country where the intellectuals hated their country. He also noted that the BBC was "half whorehouse, half lunatic asylum".